What is a Thriller film? - Georgiou

What is a Thriller film?

What are the codes and conventions of a thriller film?

• Tension, Surprise, Suspense and Shock.
• Settings- Forest, Houses, Motel, Dungeon, Abandoned places.
• Timings of shots (Fast / Slow paste)
• Music (Slow / High tempo)
• Weapons (Knife, Gun, Saw, Rope)
• Camera shots (Hand held camera, Point of View, Close-ups)
• Killer, Blood, Murder
• Low key lighting (Shadows/Fog)
• Chase
• Hidden Identity
• Enigma

In a thriller film you would expect to see codes and conventions being used. These are used to create suspicion and suspense for the audience. During the film it should make the audience be at 'the edge of their seats'. This is because the victim is being chased or frightened by the killer. This tension that builds up in the film makes the audience connect with the characters.

The definition of a thriller is that is provides a sudden rush of adrenalin and a sudden change in heart beat. The thriller genre tends to be fast-moving, mysterious and threatening. Their are different sub genre's for 'thriller', conspiracy, crime, disaster, mystery, political and techno. These sub genre's are completely different from each other but they all have the same purpose to provide a rush of excitement for the audience.

 The thriller story is mainly a innocent victim (mainly women) dealing with a psycho who is trying to kill them. This may change if the thriller sub genre is different, like the disaster thriller genre. The setting is often set in dark places like a dungeon, mysterious house, sewer or forest. 


Saw Opening Scene


















The opening sequence to saw helps to define its genre to a thriller/horror as the lighting is dark with strange sounds. The man screaming as he saw the dead body on the floor tells us its a horror. Also because of the codes and conventions that are used. The sound has a eary feeling to it with the sound of chains which builds up tension and suspense. The setting is in a industrial bathroom which fits into the thriller genre as it is in a unknown location. The iconography is the gun and chains that were used to keep the two innocent guy.s from escaping. This opening fits into the thriller genre as it is a enigma as the audience don't know how they got there.

This opening can help me to plan my own thriller film. This is because the saw opening has used many codes and conventions that are vital to making a good thriller film. In my thriller film i will be able to use some of these codes and conventions to help me.


Cellular Trailer




Codes and Conventions
The setting was based in a house where the venerable woman was kept, This is a enigma as the audience don't know where the location is. The sound had a high tempo which built up tension and suspense. The iconography was the gun, baseball bat and phone. The camera shots were fast and sharp which surprises the audience.

Target Audience
The target audience is set for 13+ as their is violence, bad language and some sexual references which is not suitable for young children.

Audience Expectations
The audience expect to see codes and conventions being used in this film, this is because this film fits in the thriller genre. They will expect to see a chase, killer, iconography (guns, knife etc). A enigma, fast pace music and low key lighting.

Shock, Surprise, Suspense
Throughout the film their is allot of suspense during the film for the audience as they follow a young man trying to save a innocent family. This builds up tension for the audience as he chases the kidnappers and fights them.

Micro Elements

Mise-en-scene, sound, editing, performance and cinematography were used in this film. The setting was based at a beach and at a house in a un-known location. Different sounds were used like diegetic, non-diegetic, parrallel, etc. The performance had loads of expression, vocal delivery and interation toward other characters. Loads of camera shots were used like close-ups, long shots etc. Also different cuts were seen, like cross-cuts, match on action and straight cuts.

Narrative
A young man receives a call on his mobile phone from a woman who says she's been kidnapped, and she thinks she will be killed soon, along with her husband and son who the kidnappers are after next. The problem is she doesn't know where she is and the young mans phones battery might die.

Themes
The theme for cellular is that the criminals are looking to steal money from the farther. They are doing this because of greed and jealousy. They try to complete this by kidnapping his family.